CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A youth leader and soccer coach at several Charlotte-area organizations was charged with multiple child sex crimes on Friday, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.
Police charged 36-year-old Benjamin Damron with nine counts of indecent liberties with a child and one count of sexual battery. Officers said Damron used his position to take advantage of the victims and sexually assault them.
Three total victims have been identified, all teenage boys, according to police. WCNC Charlotte is sharing Damron's arrest photo in the event there are potentially other victims who have not yet come forward.
Investigators said that Damron met all three victims through church and assaulted them at public parks or inside his house. CMPD Lt. James Ivie said the abuse happened for as long as five years.
Damron has been a youth leader or coach in at least four local organizations, according to CMPD. Authorities identified those organizations as Elevation Church, Mercy Church, Southbrook Church and Soccer Shots. While police said all of those organizations were notified and are cooperating with the investigation, Spence Shelton, the lead pastor at Mercy Church, told WCNC Charlotte they are unfamiliar with Damron.
Shelton told WCNC Charlotte's Julia Kauffman Friday they learned of the investigation on the evening news. He said neither he nor his leadership team have spoken with authorities. He said to the best of their knowledge, Damron has never served in a leadership role at their church.
"We have no record of this individual engaged in any ministry in our church," Shelton said.
Shelton said they are still taking this arrest very seriously and will send a message out to their congregation in hopes that any and all potential victims come forward.
Southbrook Church informed WCNC Charlotte that Damron occasionally attended its services over the years, however he "never served as a volunteer in any capacity at Southbrook Church, including that of "youth leader."
A spokesperson for Southbrook added that they are in contact with authorities and will help the investigation in any way they can.
The co-owner of Soccer Shots, Jeremy Sorzano, identified Damron as a former, part-time coach.
"We are not aware of any allegations of inappropriate conduct or behavior impacting any current or former Soccer Shots participants," Sorzano said late Friday. "The safety of all our Soccer Shots participants is paramount and therefore, all coaches are required to complete background checks and clearances in accordance with North Carolina laws."
Sorzano said, at the time, the background check for Damron "raised no adverse findings."
"We are extremely saddened for the children and families affected," he added.
"Our children are so vulnerable and we have to trust our kids are safe," Ivie said earlier Friday. "We have to be able to have conversations about what's appropriate and not appropriate."
The investigation spans multiple law enforcement jurisdictions outside of Charlotte, including Matthews and Union County. CMPD detectives have been in contact with detectives from both Matthews Police Department and the Union County Sheriff's Office.
Anyone with information about this case or the suspect, is asked to contact CMPD. You can contact the lead detective in this case, Detective Brennan, at 704-353-1940 or call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600 or http://charlottecrimestoppers.com/.
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Note: WCNC instituted a new policy in March 2021 regarding the broadcast or posting of mugshots.
WCNC will only air or post a mugshot if the person has been formally charged with a crime and in a few other cases. The exceptions include: If it appears the person could be a danger to themselves or others or if they are wanted by authorities; to differentiate between people with a common name; if the photos could encourage more victims to come forward. The news-editorial leadership may also decide to use a mugshot based on the severity of the crime(s) committed and/or the level of public interest in the crime and ensuing criminal proceedings.